Help! My 84 SLE has developed a screeching noise coming from under the dash area, something like a seat belt warning but worse. It's on all the time the key is engaged and I can't locate its source by feel or with a stethoscope. Anybody know what this is and how to unhook it?

Thanks!

Ray

 

Keep the car UNDER 7 thousand rpm!!!!

Just kidding.


is it like a whining? like its something that is supposed to tell you something? or an electrical device that is going to blow up? or a time bomb?

 

It could be a doors not closed all the way...Or the snesor is stuck...There are chimes for all kinda of stuff back there...It could be a low oil warning, a low coolant warning, etc.

~T.J.

 

Check for missing pets...

 

Wow thanks for all the quick and useful help! (This is my first post and I'm fairly new at RX-7's, so this kind of expert feedback is much appreciated!). The sound is a constant high pitched screech, much like a warning sound except it is more annoying and different from the chimes that I get when the lights are left on, the seat belts unhooked, doors are open, etc. Also I've latched and unlatched eveything I could and slammed shut the doors and hatch several times, without any change. The pets are all accounted for, in fact, they won't even get in the car anymore because it hurts their ears. I do keep it under 7000 rpm out of respect for my classic all original GSL, and as far as I know no one is out to get me. So my best guess is that it is an electrical device that is about to blow up, or if I am lucky, just die altogether and tell me what the real problem is. But if I could just unhook the damn thing!!?? All suggestions welcome!

Ray

 

Without knowing the source, you could just start pulling fuses till it goes, then come back with the "magic" fuse info for us. From there we may be able to either have more fun at your expense, or even *gasp* give bonafide help!

 

The guys are right, theres alot of chiming/warning crap under the dash, need any more info you can provide. It's most likely a failing warning sensor that hasnt failed enough to tell you what it is, or a possible bad ground for a sensor. Check all your fuses. A looses fues can cause false warnings. Make sure each one is good and that its seated well. Does the noise change with rpm's? When you turn the key on do ALL the idiot lights come on? Tell us which ones dont.

Just an outta the blue WAG, on the top of the radiator in the center is a coolant level sensor, they do fail. Un plug the bullet connector and ground it ( the wire TO the sensor, not the sensor). See if your problem goes away. Oh and make sure your radiator is topped off.

 

I'll try the fuses, thanks!

(Incidently, I'm a Biochemistry professor, but I did do a complete brake job without any help (all new calipers, rotors on the front) and the car stops real good!

Ray

 

wow, quick reply LOL. Ok keep us posted

 

Welcome to the forums, and don't take the ribbing to heart - if you ask a question and get lots of jokes in return, it seems to be this forums' way of saying "need more specific info"

 

Oh yeah, and you'd have to be a Biochemistry prof instead of an English prof or else your car would stop really well.

 

My "door open" warning buzzer stuck. The sustained buzz must have overheated it, 'cause it turned into a nerve wracking "screech". This continued until I traced the wire to the fuse box and committed "buzzer-cide" with a pair of wire cutters! Good luck! I think the wire was orange. Now, do I cut the orange one or the blue one? ...... Bam!

BTW - Biochemistry caused me to run away to Vietnam, screaming all the way! Or was that Organic Chemistry...?

 

If you can do a search, I posted the easy and correct way to disable the buzzer without messing with the warning light electronics.
If you can't search, remove your steering column surround. Look behind the ignition switch and you should see a small white plastic switch with two wires protruding. Follow those down the steering column until you reach the connector that goes to the Flasher/Control unit. Unplug the connector and you're finished. No more door or ignition buzzer!

 

Oh yeah, SLE? You mean SE, right?

 

OK, I took out the fuses (thanks Pratch and Carl for the tip!) and two fixed the screech. One was the motor fuse, which also stopped the motor - this will be of limited use). The second was the hazard fuse, which stopped the hazard flashers, but also took out the radio, making this of limited use, since I like to listen to the radio during my daily 100 mile commute into Atlanta (the radio has a dedicated radio fuse, which also takes it out). So, any ideas? Probably a zapped relay, or something like that?

Thanks for the help!!

Ray

 

So the problem is narrowed to the radio fuse circut now? When I get a chance I'll look at the diagram and try to help.

 

Ray,

Same thing happened to me and it was solved with the aforementioned action. There are 2 warning buzzers in the rex: one in the ECU and one in the combi meter. The one that is acting up is in the combi meter and is controlled by the oscillator which is located near the left headlight. That alarm energizes upon low coolant or oil level. To silence the alarm on mine I disconnected the oscillator but now have to find the problem with the alarm circuits.

Let me know if this is the fix.

phil

 

Where can I get a new or working oscillator?

 

Thanks for the help guys! BTW, I have an all original 84 GSL, the one with the 12A and the classic good looks. My earlier note was unclear about the radio fuse - when you pull this one out it stops the radio but it DOES NOT stop the shreaking sound, so the problem seems to be located to the hazard flasher circuit - when you pull this in stops the noise, inactivates the flashers and also, for some reason, turns off the radio. So I like 85RX7GS's suggestion to unplug the flasher unit (or replace it, I suppose, if you want to fix it). This should keep my radio going while getting rid of the shreak. I'll give this a try and be back with the results!

Ray

 

Phew! I'm glad someone thought that it was useful. Let me know how it goes.

 

The buzzers are b*****.

When doing my resto, I too, developed this continuous "screech". I couldn't figure out the problem (and still haven't) but hitting the buzzers on the back of your combi meter, really hard with the butt end of a screwdriver, will stop it.

Oscillator- It will cost you about $40-60 from Mazda if they still have them. When I got mine last year the guy said there were "very few" left in the parts bin in the country(?). The "screech" you're hearing though, most likely will NOT stop by replacing the O. The sound genereated by the combi-meter buzzer due to the O is a "ding-ding-ding". It is responsible for the lights on, and oil/radiator fluid levels ding-ding notification.

You're describing a buzz/screech. It is either your seat belts reminder, or your key in ignition. The same buzzer that "ding-dings" for the afore mentioned items, will "buzz/screech" for these 2.

Somewhere under your DRIVERS side left kick panel is a CPU. This square box receives input from your O as well as the key in ignition/door ajar/seat belt. It detects the integrity of the system inputs and makes the appropriate sound. The CPU also controls the hazard function as well as the delay for your wiper.

Unfortunately, I don't know what is causing your problem. Even though the O causes the CPU to generate a "ding-ding", my O had been corroded by past battery acid and when I attempted to fix it by repairing the terminals, it sent some deviated signal to the CPU to put out a continuous "screech".

So, try a new O. You can also disconnect the O at the connector. If it is sending out bad info, the screech should stop.

jeryj

 

Thanks jeryj for the information, this will keep me busy for a while! I'll do all this stuff and get back to you all after Christmas (got to do some traveling now).. Happy Holidays!

Ray

 

Excellent! Thanks for the information! I was wondering how my 85 would create a "ding-ding" without a chimer.

 

Screech Fixed!! It was the oscillator. I unhooked the connector up by the left headlight and it stopped. Then I hooked it back up and it didn't start screeching again. Now everything works again and it didn't cost anything! Thanks to Phil and Jeryj I have my radio and my sanity back!

 

congrats.